A solar-powered garden railroad building is a fairly easy project for most do-it-yourselfers. But one day while shopping at a home-improvement store, I stumbled on to a solar pathway light similar in shape to an HO scale model I liked. I thought the size would work well in my garden railroad as a structure.
![A solar garden light](https://www.trains.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/GRW_barnwell_solar_light_project_0122-788x1024.jpg)
![Components of a solar garden light](https://www.trains.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/GRW_barnwell_solar_light_components_0122-967x1024.jpg)
I added a little Evergreen styrene siding sheet for the walls, sealed the cracks, and added windows using more styrene.
![Close up of modified light post](https://www.trains.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/GRW_barnwell_solar_light_pole_detail_0122-768x1024.jpg)
I detailed the post to look like a large tree trunk post by adding knotholes using a small drill bit, and then scraping the length of it with a hacksaw blade to look like rough bark.
After painting, I added a bottom styrene plate and glued chicken grit on top of it to form a “foundation.” I also added a Plastruct styrene ladder. Even painted red and lettered it like my old Atlas one.
![Close up of model tower](https://www.trains.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/GRW_barnwell_solar_light_pole_complete_0122-768x1024.jpg)
This was a fun and easy build. It looks great, and I can move it around the layout by by pulling the post and tower out of the ground and sticking it in another location.